Apparatus for separating metals and the like from extraneous matter.



R. M. SIMPSON.

APPARATUS FOR SEPABA'IING METALS AND THE LIKE FROM EXTBANEOUS MATTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1908. 957,478, Patented May 10, 1910.

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131 w'fl izw R. M. SIMPSON. APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING METALS AND THE LIKE FROM nxnzmzons MATTER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1908.

957,478. Patented May 10, 1910.

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7 UNITED STATES RICHARD MIDDLETON SIMPSON,

OF WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING METALS AND THE LIKE FROM EXTRANEOUS MATTER.

Provincial District of Wellington," in the Dominion of New Zealand, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Metals and the Like from Extraneous Matter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus used for obtaining metals and the like free from foreign matters, the object being to-provide a machine which will separate metals and the like or other materials by mechanical means more effectively than has been pos sible with the apparatus atpresent in use.

By my invention centrifugal action is im-' parted to the material to be treated, and its progress under thisaction by an opposing current Lofwater, the combined actions resulting in the separation of light from heavier-material.

This specification will be confined to describe the invention as applied to separatin goldfrom black sand, crushed quartz an I attain the object of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1, is a central sectional elevation of the entire machine, Fig. 2, is a plan of the machine, Fig. 3, a vertical section of part of the machine on a larger scale, Fig. 4, a vertical section showing a modification, Fig. 5, a vertical section, Fig. 6, a lan showing a further modification, Fig. i is a sectional elevation on line A-A Fig. 3, a d Fig. 8, is an elevation of a stufling box upon a pipe.

Referring more particularly to-Figs. l, '2, and 3, the circular table 1 is bolted to a boss 2, which is keyed to a vertical shaft 8 mounted in bearings 4 and 5 bolted to a pedestal 6. A pulley 7 adapted to receive a belt not shown in the drawing is fixed to the shaft 3. and holes 8 are provided in the pedestal (5 through which the belt may pass to any convenient source of power. A boss 9 projecting from the table receives the end of a vertical pipe 10 having a flared mouth 11. This pipe 10 is capable of receiving water from another pipe 12 fitted with a stop cock i3, and the length of the pipe 1!) determined by the pressure of waf ndesired to Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 5, 1908. Serial No. 447,177.

Patented May 10, 1910.

i be obtained at the bottom thereof. Radial channels 14 diverging from the boss 9 extend to the rim of the table and deliver into the first compartment- 15 of a trough 16. The drawing shows other compartments 17 and 18, but this number may be decreased or increased to suit the material to be treated. The partitions 19 and 20, and the outer wall 21 of the trough are provided with covers 22, 23 and '24 respectively-concdges chamfered and projecting by gradations over the rim of the table, as shown in Fig. 1, or having the said edges vertical as shown in Fig. 3, to suit the material to be treated. Washers 25, 26 and 27 of different depths are interposed between the'partitions and their covers, and by removing or introducing a washer or washers,'the height of the covers relatively to the table 1 and to each other may be adjusted to suit the material to be treated. Cocks 28, 29 and 30 are fitted into the bottoms of the compartments 15, 1'7 and 18 and deliver into circular tanks 32, 33 and 34 carried upon a staging 35 and sloping toward their faucets 36, 37 and 38. A vat 39 located below the said faucets receives the contents of the tanks 32, 33 and 34. An annular receiver 40 surrounds the table and is adapted to catch material passing over the sloping rim 41 of the cover 24. A conical deflector-plate 42 is fixed to the table 1, and is adjustable relative thereto by means of bolts 43 and washers 44. \Vhen coarse material is to be treated, a chute 45 is used having a perforated bottom 46 through which finer material passes to the table 1, coarse material passing down the chute clear of the machine.

The machine operates as 'foll\' ws:Power is applied to the pulley 7 to rotate the table 1 and water is admitted to the ipe 10. When the material to be treated is liiiely divided, it is thrown directly upon the table, and when coarse material is to be treated, it is passed into the chute 45 with a stream of water, and the finer material is washed through the pcrforalionsin the bottom of the chute and falls upon the table. The centrifugal action imparted by the rotating table causes the material to travel toward the rim of the table, before reaching which, however, it. is intercepted bythe deflector plate and evenly distributed. The current of water through the channels 11- and the compartment 1.: meets the material after sisting of annular plates having their inner (3, channels H are toppetl at their emls the said the tletleetol hlate. 'lhe entritugal action eontinuing. heavr |ul1'tlel( pass over the run of the tahle irtothe trpugh and lighter partieles pa: sueeessively aeeortlim to their specific ravities over the rovers 3'2 :lh'i 33 into the trough, and rejected matter over the cover 24 into the reeeivet 40. The tlow of water through the pipe 10, aml consequently through the ehannels H. aml the heights of the covers 23 aml it relatively to the tahle 1 aml to eaeh other, aml the height of the rletleet'or plate relativel to the tahle ar all :uljustahle. aml the speetl of rotation of the tahle is tltljllfitttltlt hyauv ortiinar means sueh as eune pulleys. so that all neeessary variations areavailalile to adapt the maehine to treat \litl'erent lt'imls of materials. The rocks 28. 29 aml 30 may he let't open to allow the material after separation to pasa' into the tantra- 32. 33 aml t-t aml thenee into vats below the t'aneets 3. LT aml 38.

In the nualilieatinn ltn\\|1 in l -t the tahle has a narrow annular slot 51. aml

n arer the rim a .-:eeoml aml witler annular slot'a'rj. The mouth of the slot 51 is its narrowest part. so that partieles ean get elear 'lhe slot 3;

away without ehnkin; the slot. has .1 eonshlerahle lnpe so that the material (lriven In eent1'il'|t;:: of the tahle will not have a temlene v to l'all through the --lot when a tlow of water if maintained upwartllv through the --lot. The

operation in this ease is imilar tothe operatron previously tleserilaal heav v .parln'les falling: into the eompartim-nt .3 l-. lighter particles heing washed over the eover .35 into the eom mrtnu-nt PM. aml the l'tjt't'lttl mat ter being washed through the lut 5; aml them-e into the reeeiver M).

in the mmlitieatinn shown in Figs. 5

an annular slot 58 is nnule in the tahl whu'h the ehannels tlellver then water.

Fig. 8 shows means employed when water umler high preure is hrought tn the pipe l 'l'he u nvartllv extending INNS on tahle l is enlarged to form a stalling hox (ML aml the pipe 12 enters the t titling hoX. 'l'hns the i lahle in tree tn'rntate. while a watertight joint is made with the pipe I whieh is eole Ilt't'ttlt to a water main.

hat l tltl elaim aml lit--il'e loseeure by Letters Patent t' the l'nite'l States is:

t. In an apparatus of the eharaeter ile serihetl. the enmhinatinn of a nhslantiall hnrixontally arrang d. eireular. rotating tahle atlaptetl to reeeive on its upper snrl'aee the material to he tlttltttl aml haviu; helow saill snrl'aee ehannels \vhieh rzuliate from its eenler to its. a-ripher v. means l'or supplying material has founrl its way helm-r aetion over the snrl'aee t walls of the inner eompartmeat acting to ause th water issuing tr m said ehannela to pass upwardly onto the upper snrta 'e of t the tahle aml towartl tho renter thereof.

& In an apparatna of the rharaeter (leserlhetl, the eomhination of a aulmtautially horizontally arranged, circular. rotating tahle adapted to receive on its upper surface the material to he. treateil an-l havin helow saitl snrt'aee ehannels whieh ra liate ii'om its renter to its periphery, means for #upplying water to the inner entls of aitl channels, and a trough surrnun-ling; the. tahle aml rotating therewith, gaitl trough hein t lYltlttl into a plurality of eom-entrie rompartnuntts the outer walls of which exleml above. the upper surt'aee of the table. aml separahle eaver supported by saitl outer wall$ of the com- ]mrtmenta in the trough aml projecting over the tahle.

3. In an apparatus of the character (10- serihetL the eomhination of a substantially horizontally arranged, circular, rotating tahl :nlapteil to receive on its upper snrfare the material to he treatetl aml havin; below Pnill surt'aee ehannlgls wh eh razliate from its eenter to its periphery. means for supplying water to the inner (Htli ot' saitl ehannel and t a trough eurroumling the. tahle aml rotating therewith. aitl trough being divided into a plurality ot eoneeutrie eompartments the outer \\'all. of whieh exteml ahove the upper snrtaee of the table, aml s parable eovers suppnrtetl h saiil outer walls of the eompartnn-nts in the trough and projecting over the tahle, the height of the several walls I f the trough aml the extent. of proj eti on i of the eover over the tahle gradually inereasitr; a the listan e of Fttltl walls from jthe tahle inereaws.

t. In an apparatus of the eharaeter the aeril-etl. the eomhination nl' a i!eular tallle mountetl to rotate ahont a vertieal axis. antl having lnrmell thereimla-lowitsuppersurfitee a set'tesnt ehannels that open through its periphery. a eomluit eommnui -ating with the inner emts ot' ail ehannel aml extemling ahove the tahle. means for :-:uppl vin; mate.- rial to he tr -ate-- to the upper surl'aee of the tahle. aml a trough surr unding the t:ll)lt3 aml tl\'l t 'tl into a plurality of eompartm nts. the walls of the inner enmpartn'ient lu'illg :nlaptetl to tlireet the water issuing from saitl elzannels over the upper surface ot' the talrle lowartl the renter therenl .1 Apparatus for separating nmterial. eomprhing a eirenlar rotatln; tahle pro- \'l\ll'tl with ehannel rznliatiu; from the eenter to the rim of the tahle. means for (lireeting water flowing from the ehannel tn the surl'aee ot' the tahle. lnean l'or l'ee\lin; material to he eparale|l to the tahle. aml i Inans for spreailin; the material lit-fore l l'tnt'ltlllg' the rim of the tahle, Fuhstantially l as set forth.

.llo

' comprising a circular rotatin vided with channels radiating mm the cen- 6. Apparatus for separating materials, comprising a circular rotatin table provided with channels radiating mm the center to the rim of the table, means for (ilrecting water flowin from the channels to the surface of the ta le, means for feeding material to be separated to the table, and-a conical deflector plate fixed to the table, and acting to read the material thereon in the path of t e streams of water from said channels, substantially as set forth.

7. Apparatus for separating materials,

table proter to the rim of the table, means for directing water flowing from the channels to the surface of" the table, a conical deflector plate fixed to the table, means for feeding material to the table within the deflector to be spread thereby in the path of water issufrom said channels, and means for ad usting the deflector plate relatively to the table, substantially as set forth.

8. Apparatus for separating materials,

()OHlPl'lSlIlg a circular rotatln table provided with channels radiating from the center to the rim of the table, means for feeding material to be separated to the table, means for directing water flowin from the channels to the surface of the bile, a conical deflector plate fixed to the table, and

washers between the said deflector plate and the table, substantially as set forth;

comprism 9. Apparatus for separating materials, comprising a ,circular rotatin table provided with channels radiating cm the center to the rim of the table, means for feeding .material to be separated to the table, a trough around the rim of the table into which waterfrom the channels flows and is directed to the surface of the table, stop cocks in the bottom of the trough, annular tanks 'havin faucets and into which the said cocks deliver, the said tanks bein fixed in a sition sloping toward ,the said faucets, su tantially as set forth.

10.' Apparatus for separating materials,

a circular rotatin table provided wit channels radiating from the center to the rim of the table and stopped at their outer ends, there bein an annular slot near the rim of the tab e with which the channels communicate, a cover having an annular slot and extending over the rim oithe table, there being an annular slot between the table and the COVEI', and means for feeding material to be separated to the g table, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have. signed my name to this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

' mam summer smrson.

' Witnesses:

Eimrsr Sm'm Bannwm, Hanan: Hsur'rox Rsrwm. 

